By Trendsetter Tribune 
Target is under pressure after ICE agents detained two U.S. citizen employees inside a Minnesota store, sparking protests, political outrage, and demands for stronger worker protections.
Target is facing growing backlash in its home state of Minnesota after federal immigration agents detained two of the company’s employees — both U.S. citizens — inside a suburban Twin Cities store.
The incident has ignited protests, drawn condemnation from state lawmakers, and intensified scrutiny of how major retailers respond when immigration enforcement actions unfold on their property. It also comes amid heightened tensions following a recent fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis, further inflaming public anger over federal immigration operations in the state.
What Happened at the Richfield Target
On January 8, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents detained two Target employees inside a store in Richfield, Minnesota, after an encounter that began in the parking lot and continued into the store’s vestibule.
The workers — Jonathan Aguilar Garcia and Christian Miranda Romano — were performing drive-up duties when they were stopped by agents led by a senior U.S. Border Patrol commander, according to local officials and witnesses.
During the confrontation, one employee could be heard shouting, “I’m literally a U.S. citizen!” as agents escorted him toward a vehicle, according to reporting cited by The Wall Street Journal.
Both men were eventually released. One was reportedly dropped off injured and crying at a nearby Walmart parking lot, while the other was briefly taken to a detention facility before being let go.
Disputed Accounts and Allegations
Minnesota State Rep. Michael Howard said the agents entered the store without a warrant and physically detained the workers. Family members and witnesses have alleged the incident amounted to racial profiling.
The Department of Homeland Security later claimed on social media that one individual had been arrested for “assaulting a federal law enforcement offers [sic].” That assertion was disputed by family members and local officials, who denied that either employee assaulted an officer.
Authorities have not released body-camera footage or detailed explanations clarifying the circumstances surrounding the detentions.
Protests Erupt Outside Target
Days after the incident, protesters gathered outside the Richfield Target store, demanding the retailer take action to protect employees and customers from federal immigration agents operating on its property.
Demonstrators chanted, held signs, and confronted store management during a weekend protest that drew local residents, activists, and faith-based groups.
Organizers said they urged Target to train employees on how to respond when immigration agents appear, including informing workers that agents need a signed warrant to access non-public areas of stores.
Protesters also called on Target to publicly oppose immigration enforcement actions at its locations.
“It’s odd for them at this moment, when Minnesota is under sort of occupation, that they are silent,” said Ben Whalen, a former Richfield City Council member who helped organize the protest.
Whalen said organizers met with store management to push for clearer policies and stronger protections for workers following the incident.
Escalating Immigration Enforcement Across Minnesota
The Target incident is part of a broader surge in federal immigration enforcement across Minnesota in recent weeks.
ICE and Border Patrol agents have conducted operations in residential neighborhoods, retail parking lots, and inside major big-box stores, according to local officials and video circulating online.
Federal authorities say a recent deployment resulted in roughly 300 arrests over two days in the Minneapolis area, including at least 10 individuals accused of murder or violent child sex offenses.
However, the visibility of enforcement actions in everyday public spaces has rattled residents and intensified community backlash.
Fallout From a Fatal ICE Shooting
Tensions escalated further after the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.
The killing sparked days of protests and sharp political backlash, with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and other officials calling for ICE to leave the city as investigations continue.
Demonstrators flooded streets and gathered outside government buildings, adding to public anger over the federal presence in the state.
Other Retailers Caught in the Crossfire
Target is not the only retailer affected.
Immigration agents have detained people inside Walmart stores and in parking lots around the Twin Cities in recent days, according to local officials. Videos appear to show agents confronting individuals inside stores and using retail locations as staging areas.
Home Depot parking lots have also become frequent sites of enforcement, as day laborers — many of them immigrants — traditionally gather there seeking temporary work.
Home Depot has said federal agents are permitted to operate in publicly accessible areas and that the company does not coordinate with ICE or Border Patrol.
Analysis: Corporate Silence Under Scrutiny
The Richfield incident has put renewed pressure on corporations to clarify their role when federal law enforcement operates on their premises.
Activists argue that silence from major retailers effectively enables enforcement actions that they say endanger workers and customers. Companies, meanwhile, face legal and political constraints when dealing with federal agencies operating in public spaces.
For Target — headquartered in Minnesota and long seen as a civic-minded corporate presence — the controversy cuts especially deep.
Conclusion
The detention of two U.S. citizen Target employees has become a flashpoint in Minnesota’s escalating battle over immigration enforcement, corporate responsibility, and civil liberties.
As protests grow and political pressure mounts, Target and other major retailers may be forced to decide whether to remain neutral — or take a more public stand — as federal immigration operations increasingly unfold in everyday commercial spaces.